Ala Moana Bowls Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here, checking in on the local surf scene for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we're not looking at a classic run of waves. The water temp is sitting at a pretty standard 80° for this time of year, so no weirdness there. The first week or so is a bit of a struggle, with mostly small, short-period, wind-affected swell that’s just not doing much for us. The wind is mostly a cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, which keeps the surface clean, but the swell energy is low and inconsistent. Things get a little more interesting in the second week as a new, longer-period swell rolls in.

For the best chance of a decent wave, you'll want to point your board at Ala Moana Bowls (Oahu). This is an advanced reef break that's fairly consistent, but it's often crowded. The standout window shapes up around the 6th of September through the 7th. We’ve got a long-period S/SSW groundswell (17 seconds) rolling in, which is perfect for a reef like this. Swell heights will be a modest 3ft to 3ft, but that long-period energy will pack a punch. The combined wave energy is moderate (619 to 701), so there's some grunt in the water. The wind will be light and a bit cross-onshore or cross-shore, which is a small price to pay for that clean, lined-up reef surf. The swell direction from the SSW is a good match for the break, so expect some nice, peeling walls.

The rest of the forecast is a bit of a write-off, especially the first week. The wind is fresh and strong, which makes it hard to get anything clean even if the swell was there. The last few days of the forecast period, around the 9th and 10th of September, are just poor surf conditions with strong breezes. It's a waiting game, but that window in early September is the one to chase.

Keep it salty,
Rusty

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